Hose-coupling



UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CHARLES F. SPENCER, OI(` ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HOSE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,261, dated October 2, 1860.

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SPENCER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Coupling for Connecting Hose and other Pipes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l, is a longitudinal section of my coupling. Fig. 2, is a transverse section on the line m m of F ig. l. Fig. 3, is a transverse section on the line y y of Fig. l. Fig. fl, is an elevation of the entering section B, detached.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The object of my invention is the production of a coupling which may be instantly connected or disconnected, and which shall be self-packing whenever it is in use, without the aid of screws, cams or wrenches.

As represented in the drawings A, B, are the two sections of the coupling, to each of which the hose C, C, is attached. These parts consist of two metallic tubes having a bore of a diameter nearly corresponding with that of the hose to which they are attached.

B is the entering, and A, the receiving section; the latter being bored out of a large Isize to allow the former to enter till the shoulder e strikes the end of A. At a point corresponding with the end of B, when inserted, an annular' chamber (Z is formed in the interior of A, of a depth. from to I? inch, varying with the diameter of the pipe. In this chamber a fiat ring of packing f is insei-ted, having an opening corresponding with the bore of the pipe. Its external diameter should be slightly less than that of the chamber Z so as to allow it to move freely therein. This packing may be composed of india-rubber, leather or other packing material having suiiicient liexibility and elasticity for the purpose, and which will withstand the action of water.

`When the two parts of the coupling are connected, the packing ring j' is free to move in the recess cl until water is passed through the hose, in the direction of the arrow, when the force thereof impacts the ring f on the end of the post B, and shoulder of the chamber d, completely, closing the joint between the two. The greater the force of the water the more perfect the packing is upon the joint, and it cannot yield so long as the water continues to flow in that direction. In attaching the parts of the coupling to the hose it should be borne in mind that A is attached to the hydrant portion, and B, to the nozzle section, or in the same relative positions however many sections of hose there lmay be.

The fastening which keeps the parts A,

and B, from separating' is a spring latch or catch g Figs. l, and 3, which is pivoted at one end in a slot which lies transversely of the part A. The inner edge of this projects an eight-h of an inch or thereabout from the interior surface of A, and falls into a groove c' in the part B, as soon as that part is fully inserted. This groove extends quite around the section B, and allows it to turn freely in A, without disconnecting the two. This is an important feature, as it frequently occurs that the hose becomes twisted, an accident which cannot be remedied with the ordinary coupling without uncoupling, which is difficult, and sometimes impossible to perform without stopping the flow of water. This device forms a swivel joint by which the parts will turn together in either direction without making' the connection insecure, and the packing of the joint remains perfectly tight the meanwhile. Indeed so easily does the joint turn, that the slight rigidity of the hose is sufficient for that purpose whenever a twist occurs, so that the effect is to prevent that occurrence.

The latch is provided with a spring m under its heel, which may be made of india rubber, or of metal, applied in any manner that will have the effect to hold it down until it is raised for the purpose of uncoupling the parts. The end of B, is made slightly conical and the outer edge of the latch is rounded or beveled so that the insertion of B, into A raises the latch, which the spring causes to fall into the groove. Thus the work of connecting and fastening is instantly effected by merely placing the two parts together, which can be done without diiiiculty while the water is flowing.

I do not confine myself to the particular form of latch represented, as any other kind which has the power to self-connect and to permit one section of the coupling to turn independently of the other Will ansWer force of the Water passing through the hose,

equally Well. substantially as set forth.

What I elaiin as my invention, and desire 2. In combination with said packing ring, to secure by Letters Patent, isthe groove z' on the neel: of tube B, and latch 5 l. My improved packing for hose coup g or its equivalent, substantially as and for l5 llngs, consisting of the loose ring f of india the purposes speoied.

rubber, or its equivalent, in Combination With CHAS. F. SPENCER. the annular chamber Z for retaining the Witnesses: saine in a position to readily impact with J. FRASER,

lo the end of the inserted section, B, by the S. J. ALLIs. 

